Westside Architect – “I’ve never been busier. New homes for Asian clients make up two-thirds of my 30 current projects.”

Anecdote extracted from ‘Chinese Spreading Wealth Make Vancouver Homes Pricier Than NYC’, by Hui-yong Yu and Christopher Donville, 17 May 2011, at bloomberg.com : “Many existing houses were built in the 1940s and ‘50s and have outdated electrical systems and plumbing and are “much smaller” than allowed today, said Vancouver architect Loy Leyland. As buyers prefer to demolish old houses than renovate, new homes for Asian clients make up two-thirds of his more than 30 current projects.  “I’ve never been busier” in a 30-year career, Leyland said. Leyland’s clients usually stick to traditional styles such as Villa or Georgian for exteriors. Inside, designs are changing. Every new house has two kitchens: a large Western- style one and a small “wok” kitchen with a stove, sink, strong exhaust fan and door to seal off cooking aromas, said Leyland.”